Radial jaw biopsy forceps

ABSTRACT

A biological forceps device for the taking of tissue samples from a body, comprising a flexible main coil attached at its distal end to a pair of homologous cast jaws. The jaws have radially arranged teeth on their distalmost end. The jaws are opened and closed by attachment to a pair of pull wires which extend through the main coil, into a handle at its proximal end, the handle has a spool which slides about a central shaft attached to the main coil. The spool is attached to the pull wires, so that movement of the spool with respect to the central shaft, effectuates a force on the proximal ends of the levered jaws, to open and close them, appropriately.

Notice: This is a continuation reissue of application Ser. No.10/074,012, filed Feb. 14, 2002, which is a reissue application of U.S.Pat. No. 6,024,708.

This is a continuation division of application Ser. No. 08/458,215,filed Jun. 2, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,666,965 which is a continuationof Ser. No. 07/837,046 filed Feb. 18, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,296,which is a continuation of Ser. No. 07/521,766 filed May. 10, 1990 nowU.S. Pat. No. 5,133,727.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to biopsy forceps and more particularly to uniquehandler actuation wire and homologous jaw construction for thoseforceps.

A number of different types of biopsy forceps are in common use,typically in conjunction with endoscopic assistance. Ordinarily, thesedevices are of complicated construction, requiring the manufacturing andmachining of precise miniaturized components, which are thereforegenerally quite expensive.

One early example of flexible forceps is shown in U.S. Pat. No.3,895,636 (1975) to Schmidt, wherein a pair of cup shaped jaws having anannular rim mate with a hub and a sharpened trocar. The jaws in thisembodiment are of a nature which requires machining for the edge, eachjaw being different from the other jaw.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,612 to Esser et al, shows a similar biopsy forcepswhich utilizes a cam linkage to effectuate the cup shaped jaws towardand away form one another. The jaws shown in this patent are made fromstainless steel and likewise, require expensive machining.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,763,668 to Macek et al, shows a biopsy forceps whose cupshaped forceps are driven by a linkage arrangement. Each pivot point inthe linkage establishes a new place for stress, wear and breakage. Thisis similar to the linkage assembly shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,116 toSchintgen et al. A needle between the forceps shown in this patent, isretractable as the forceps close.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,921,640 to Freeborn, shows a surgical instrumentmanufactured from a single piece of molded plastic. The instrument mayhave any of various forms of jaws including an arrangement of teeth forholding towels or surgical dressing.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,200,111 shows a pair of spring biased jaws which areslidably disposed within the end of a trocar. The jaws are movedinwardly and outwardly from the trocar by movement from a twisted wire.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,471 to Hayashi, shows a biopsy forceps device havinga pair of cups attached by a pivot pin, with several linkages betweenthe cups and the operating wire, which are likewise, connected by pivotpins, the pins being welded or fused to their components by the use oflaser welding.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,460 to Porat et al, shows a medical device forgripping, having a pair of jaws which are identical to one another. Thejaws have an array of teeth disposed completely thereacross. The teethare divided longitudinally across each jaw and are out of phase from oneanother by a half a pitch. The instrument is utilized for grippingpurposes. A further device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 825,829 to Heath.This appliance utilizes two different sets of engaging jaws toaccomplish its cutting purpose.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a forcep devicewhich overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cuttingdevice having a pair of jaws, wherein each jaw may be a duplicate of itsopposing jaw.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a cuttingdevice which is self-aligning which permits greater tolerance in thedimensions of the components in their manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises an improvement in biopsy forceps whereina pair of jaws are formed from a casting. Each jaw of the pair of jawsof the biopsy forceps may be a duplicate of the other jaw. Each jaw issomewhat hemispherically shaped having an elongated portion whichextends proximally into a cutter tang. Each cutter jaw has a generallyU-shaped distalmost end on which is defined a plurality of radiallydisposed teeth. The teeth on one side of the longitudinal centerline ofthe jaw are displaced by one-half pitch from the corresponding teeth onthe other side of the longitudinal centerline on that jaw. Thedisplacement by one-half pitch of the teeth on one side of the jawrelative to those corresponding teeth on the other longitudinal side ofthe jaw permits the same casting to be used for both the upper and lowerjaws. The radially disposed array of teeth on each of the jaws permits aself-aligning feature therewith, thus compensating for the slightlylooser tolerances found in the casting manufacturing technique.

Each jaw extends proximally and terminates in a tang, as aforementioned.Each tang is arranged so as to receive a joggled pull wire therethrough.Each jaw is mated with one another about a clevis pin which is castunitarily with a clevis. The clevis extends into a housing which iscrimped to a main coil, the proximal end of which extends into a handlehaving means for articulating the jaws. Each joggled pullwire from thetang on the proximal end of each jaw flexibly extends through the maincoil and into the hub of the handle at the proximal end of the forcepsassembly.

The handle comprises a central shaft about which a displaceable spool isdisposed. The central shaft has a longitudinally directed steppeddiameter bore extending therein on its distal end, and a thumb ring onits proximalmost end. The proximal end of the coil extends into the boreon the proximal end of the central shaft. The bore in the central shafton the handle has a stepped configuration. The distal end of the borehaving a slightly larger diameter than the second or intermediate bore,or the third or proximal end of the bore in the central shaft. A lockingcoil is arranged to mate within the stepped large outer diameter (distalend) of the central shaft. The locking coil has an inner diameter whichis slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the main coil extendingfrom the cutter jaw assembly to the handle. The main coil is screwedinto the locking coil disposed within the central shaft. A sheath whichacts as a strain relief, is disposed distally of the locking coil aboutthe main coil within the central shaft. The sheath holds the lockingcoil within the first stepped bore in the central shaft. The strainrelief is bonded to the bore of the central shaft. The proximalmost endof the joggled pull wires extend through the proximal end of the maincoil and into a thin anti-kink tube in the narrowest third stepped borein the central shaft. The cross pin fits through a slot at the midpointof the central shaft. The slot is in communication with the third boretherein. A cross pin mates with the slot across the central shaft. Theproximalmost end of the joggled pull wires are locked into an opening inthe cross pin. The ends of the cross pin mate with slots in the spool soas to facilitate corresponding motion in the joggled pull wires.

Proximal movement of the spool with respect to the central shafteffectuates a pull on the joggled pull wires so as to create a pivotablemotion of the tangs on the proximal end of the cutters, to cause thecutter jaws to engage to one another.

Movement of the spool distally with respect to the central shafteffectuates a compression on the pull wire thus causing arcuate movementof the tangs on the proximal end of each jaw to force a pivoting motionabout the clevis pin thus opening the respective jaws.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and advantages of the present invention will become moreapparent when viewed in conjunction with the following drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view in section, of a biopsy forcepsassembly;

FIG. 2 is a side assembly view of the distalmost end of a biopsy forcepsassembly with a needle, with its cutter jaws being opened;

FIG. 3 is a plan view, partly in section, of the distal end of a biopsyforceps without a needle;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view partly in section of the biopsyforceps shown in FIG. 3 with its jaws opened;

FIG. 5 is a plan view, partly in section, of the distal end of a biopsyforceps assembly, with a needle;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view partly in section, of the biopsyforceps shown in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view in section, showing part of the handleat the proximalmost end of a biopsy forceps assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings in detail and particularly to FIG. 1,there is shown a biopsy forceps assembly 10, having a distal end 12,comprising a jaw assembly 14, and a proximal end 16 comprising a handle17, spool 19 and thumb ring 21 for manipulation of the assembly. The jawassembly 14 comprises a pair of jaws 18, each of which is a duplicate ofthe other. Each jaw 18 as may be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, is a generallyelongated somewhat hemispherically shaped structure having a distalmostend and a proximalmost end. Each jaw 18 has on its distalmost end, anarray of teeth 20 generally radially directed about a point “R”, asexemplified in FIG. 3. Each jaw 18 has a generally longitudinalcenterline as may be seen in FIGS. 3 and 5. The teeth 20 on one side ofthe longitudinal centerline of each jaw 18 being displaced by one halfpitch from the corresponding teeth 20 on the other side of thelongitudinal centerline on that jaw 18. The displacement by one halfpitch by the teeth on one side of the jaw 18 is relative to thosecorresponding teeth 20 on the other longitudinal side of the jaw 18permits the same casting to be used for both the upper and lower jaws ofthe jaw assembly 14. The radial arrangement of the teeth 20 as best seenin FIGS. 3 and 5 require each jaw 18 when they close onto one another toautomatically mate and effectuate proper alignment therebetween. Theself-alignment permits each jaw 18 to be manufactured by an investmentcasting technique which is inheritantly less expensive than the typicalprior art jaws which are machined and which distalmost teeth are eithernon-existant or they are transverse to the longitudinal centerline thejaws, which jaws inheritantly fail to have any positive cutting edge attheir distalmost ends. The casting of each jaw 18 also permits a loosertolerance therebetween which is characteristic of the castingmanufacturing technique without any loss in effectiveness of those jaws.

Each jaw 18 has a proximalmost end which comprises a tang 24. Each tang24 has a generally semicircular recess position 26 on its outer sidethereof. The recessed portion 26 may be seen most clearly in FIGS. 3 and5, and then a side view in FIGS. 2, 4 and 6. A bore 30 extendstranversely through the midpoint between the distal end proximalmostends of each jaw 18. Each jaw 18 is mated with one another and so as toeach be levered about a clevis pin 28 which extends through the bore 30on each respective jaw 18. Each jaw 18 has an annular bore 33 disposedabout the outer face of its bore 30, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. The boss33 acts as a bearing surface to reduce the typical friction found onprior art forceps. The clevis pin 28 is received in a hole 32 in clevis34 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. The clevis 34 extends proximally, as shownin FIGS. 2-6, into a hub 40. The clevis 34, the housing 40 and clevispin 28 are made from a common casting. The clevis pin 28 unitarilyextending from one of the sidearms 29 Of the clevis 34.

A main tubular coil 50 shown in FIG. 2 at its distal end thereof, has aportion of it periphery ground flat, as at 52. The flattened distalperiphery of the main coil 50 permits a more solid anchoring between theinside of the hub 40 and the distal end of the main coil 50 when the twoare crimped together, obviating the need for adhesives, soldering orwelding.

An FEP sheath 54 extends from the distal end of the main coil 50therethrough into the central shaft 56 of the handle 17 as shown inFIGS. 2 and 7. This sheath 54 acts as a bearing between a pair of pullwires 60 and the lumen of the main coil 50.

The distalmost end of each pull wire 60 has a Z-bend therein. the Z-bendof each pull wire 60 has a first portion 62 which is rotatably disposedin the recess 26 in the tang 24 of each cutter jaw 18. The Z-bend has asecond portion 64 which extends through a bore 66 in the proximalmostend of the tang 24, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. A ninety degree bend68 between the second portion 64 and the main pull wire 60 eliminatesthe pinching common to prior art loop design wires. Each pull wire 60has a reflex curve 70 as shown in FIG. 2 as well as in FIGS. 6 and 7,extending between their distalmost ends and the distalmost end of themain coil 50. The reflex curve 70 helps to open the cutter jaws 18 whenthe spool 19 on the handle 17 is displaced distally thereto.

FIGS. 2, 5 and 6 shows the distal end of the biopsy forceps assembly 10with a flat needle 80 disposed between the two cutter jaws 18. Theneedle 80 has a pointed distalmost end 82 that terminates just withinthe cutter jaws 18 when closed, and has tail 84 comprising itsproximalmost end which extends within the distalmost end of the maincoil 50. The needle 80 has a central opening through which the clevispin 28 may extend as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. The needle 80 is flat, andas such may be disposed between the two tangs 24 of each cutter jaw 18as shown in FIG. 5. In cutter jaw assembly 14 without the needletherein, a washer 90 is disposed between the two cutter jaws 18 on theclevis pin 28.

The proximal end of the main coil 50 and the proximal end of the pullwires 60 extend into handle 17 at the proximal end 16 of the biopsyforceps assembly 10. The handle 17 comprises a central shaft about whicha displaceable spool 19 is disposed. The central shaft has alongitudinally directed stepped diameter bore 92 extending therein, asshown in FIGS. 1 and 7. The proximal end of the main coil 50 extendsinto the bore 92 on the proximal end of the central shaft. The bore 92extending into the central shaft has a three stepped configuration. Thebore 92 on the distalmost end of the central shaft has a large firstdiameter 94 as shown in FIG. 7 which steps to a smaller second diameter96 which subsequently steps down to a smaller yet third diameter bore98. A locking coil 100 is disposed against the first largest diameterbore 94 in the central shaft. The main coil 50 has an outer diameterslightly larger than the inner diameter of the locking coil 100 and isthreadedly received therethrough. The main coil 50 thus extends to andabuts the handle 17 adjacent the second stepped bore 96 of the bore 92in the central shaft. The pull wires 60 disposed through the inner lumenof the main coil extend therethrough and into the smallest portion 98 ofthe bore 92 in the central shaft. A strain relief sheath 102 is disposeddistally to the locking coil about the main coil 50 within the largestbore 94 in the central shaft. The strain relief sheath 102 extendsslightly distally of the distalmost end of the central shaft, and isbonded to the inner walls of the largest bore 94 by a solvent which isdirected thereto through a hole 104, as shown in FIG. 7. The strainrelief sheath 102 limits twist and movement of the main coil 50 with thebore 94 while preventing a sharp bend of the coil 50 at the distal endof the handle 17. The proximalmost end of the pull wires 60 extendthrough the proximal end of the main coil 50 as aforementioned andthrough and anti-kicking tube 109, and are locked into a cross pin 110,as shown in FIG. 1, which cross pin 110 mates with a slot 112 disposedacross the central shaft of the handle 17. The slot 112 is incommunication with the axial bore 92 in the central shaft. Theproximalmost end of the pull wires 60 are locked into the cross pin 110by a set screw 114 as shown in FIG. 1. The ends of the cross pins 110mate with a slot 116 in the spool so as to lock the cross pin 110therewith. Movement of the spool 19 which is disposed about the centralshaft thereby effectuates movement of the puller wires 60 disposedwithin the main coil 50, the distal ends of which are attached to thetangs 24 on the cutter jaws 18 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Thus there has been shown a biopsy forceps assembly which can be made ina very cost effective manner for an improved biopsy sample. The cutterjaws and clevis support of the biopsy forceps each being made of a castmaterial permitting a far less expensive manufacture because of itssimplicity permitting one jaw design and its self-aligning radiallydirected distal jaw teeth effectuating its cutting effectiveness as wellas its ease of assembly. The pull wire arrangement with each particularjaw eliminates the prior art multiple linkages which have frictionalproblems and potential for breakage therewith. The spool design for thegrasping of the pull wires in regard to the handle therewithinfacilitates a one-handed operation thus permitting the physician use ofhis other hand for other purposes.

1. A biopsy forceps device having a proximal end and a distal end, thedevice comprising: an end effector assembly at the distal end of thedevice, wherein the end effector assembly includes a first jaw and asecond jaw, the first jaw being pivotally disposed about a pivotal axisand with respect to the second jaw; an actuator at the proximal end ofthe device; and a hollow portion connecting the end effector assemblyand the actuator, wherein the actuator operates to pivot the first jawabout the pivotal axis and move the first jaw into contact with thesecond jaw, wherein each of the first and second jaws includes agenerally U-shaped configuration defining a center point and having adistalmost end, and wherein an edge of the distalmost end of each of thejaws includes teeth radially disposed about the center point.
 2. Thedevice according to claim 1, wherein the second jaw is pivotallydisposed about the pivotal axis and with respect to the first jaw sothat the jaws are mate upon pivotal movement.
 3. The device according toclaim 2, further comprising a clevis pin, wherein the pivotal axis isdefined by the clevis pin.
 4. The device according to claim 1, whereinthe teeth have a substantially triangular shape.
 5. The device accordingto claim 4, wherein the teeth of the first and second jaws mate.
 6. Thedevice according to claim 5, wherein the teeth of the first jaw aredisplaced by one half pitch from the teeth of the second jaw.
 7. Thedevice according to claim 1, wherein the first and second jaws have agenerally elongated hemispherical shape.
 8. The device according toclaim 1, wherein the first jaw has a tang defining a first bore.
 9. Thedevice according to claim 8, further comprising a first pull wirepositioned within the hollow portion, the first pull wire connecting thefirst jaw to the actuator and engaging the first bore, wherein a distalend of the first pull wire passes through and beyond the first bore andterminates without forming a loop.
 10. The device according to claim 9,further comprising a second pull wire positioned within the hollowportion and connecting the second jaw to the actuator.
 11. The deviceaccording to claim 10, wherein the second jaw has a tang defining asecond bore and the second pull wire engages the second bore, a distalend of the second pull wire passing through and beyond the second boreand terminating without forming a loop, the actuator operating to pivotthe second jaw about the pivotal axis.
 12. The device according to claim11, wherein the distal end of the second pull wire includes a manportion which extends in the direction of the actuator, a first portionwhich passes through the second bore at an angle to the main portion,and a second portion on the opposite side of the second bore relative tothe main portion, the second portion of the second pull wire maintainingthe second pull wire on the tang, the second pull wire terminating onthe second portion.
 13. The device according to claim 10, wherein theactuator includes a handle being coupled to the first and second pullwires.
 14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the handle includesa central shaft and a spool slidably disposed around the central shaft,the spool engaging the first and second pull wires, the spool operableto move the first and second pull wires relative to the central shaft.15. The device according to claim 10, wherein the first and second pullwires are positioned within the hollow portion for a substantial lengthof the hollow portion.
 16. The device according to claim 9, wherein thedistal end of the first pull wire includes a main portion which extendsin the direction of the actuator, a first portion which passes throughthe first bore at an angle to the main portion, and a second portion onthe opposite side of the first bore relative to the main portion, thesecond portion of the first pull wire maintaining the first pull wire onthe tang, the first pull wire terminating on the second portion.
 17. Thedevice according to claim 16, wherein the first pull wire is bentbetween the main portion and the first portion and between the firstportion and the second portion.
 18. The device according to claim 17,wherein the first portion of the first pull wire which passes throughthe bore is rotatable relative to the surface of the bore.
 19. Thedevice according to claim 1, wherein the hollow portion is a coil. 20.The device according to claim 1, further comprising a needle disposedbetween the first and second jaws.
 21. An end effector assembly for usein a biopsy forceps device including an actuator at a proximal end ofthe device and a hollow portion connecting the actuator to the endeffector assembly, the end effector assembly comprising: a first jaw;and a second jaw for mating with the first jaw, wherein the first jaw ispivotally disposed with respect to the second jaw about a pivotal axis,and each of the first and second jaws includes a generally U-shapedconfiguration defining a center point and having a distalmost end, andwherein an edge of the distalmost end of each of the jaws includes teethradially disposed about the center point.
 22. The assembly according toclaim 21, wherein the second jaw is pivotally disposed about the pivotalaxis and with respect to the first jaw so that the jaws mate uponpivotal movement.
 23. The assembly according to claim 22, furthercomprising a clevis pin, wherein the pivotal axis is defined by theclevis pin.
 24. The device according to claim 22, wherein the secondpull wire is bent between the main portion and the first portion andbetween the first portion and the second portion.
 25. The deviceaccording to claim 24, wherein the first portion of the second pull wirewhich passes through the second bore is rotatable relative to surface ofthe bore.
 26. The assembly according to claim 21, wherein the teeth havea substantially triangular shape.
 27. The assembly according to claim26, wherein the teeth of the first and second jaws mate.
 28. Theassembly according to claim 27, wherein the teeth of the first jaw aredisplaced by one half pitch from the teeth of the second jaw.
 29. Theassembly according to claim 21, wherein the first and second jaws have agenerally elongated hemispherical shape.
 30. The assembly according toclaim 21, wherein the first jaw has a tang defining a first bore forreceiving a first pull wire.
 31. The assembly according to claim 21,wherein the second jaw has a tang defining a second first bore forreceiving a second pull wire.
 32. The assembly according to claim 21,further comprising a needle disposed between the first and second jaws.33. A biopsy forceps device having a proximal end and a distal end, thedevice comprising: an end effector assembly at the distal end of thedevice, wherein the end effector assembly includes a first jaw and asecond jaw, the first jaw being pivotally disposed about a pivotal axisand with respect to the second jaw; an actuator at the proximal end ofthe device; and a hollow portion connecting the end effector assemblyand the actuator, wherein the actuator operates to pivot the first jawabout the pivotal axis and move the first jaw into contact with thesecond jaw, wherein each of the first and second jaws includes agenerally U-shaped configuration defining a center point and having adistalmost end, and wherein an edge of the distalmost end of one of thejaws includes teeth radially disposed about the center point, and anedge of the distalmost end of the other jaw includes at least one tooth.34. The device according to claim 33, wherein the second jaw ispivotally disposed about the pivotal axis and with respect to the firstjaw so that the jaws mate upon pivotal movement.
 35. The deviceaccording to claim 34, further comprising a clevis pin, wherein thepivotal axis is defined by the clevis pin.
 36. The device according toclaim 33, wherein the teeth of the one of the jaws and at least onetooth of the other jaw have a substantially triangular shape.
 37. Thedevice according to claim 36, wherein the teeth of the one of the jawsand the at least one tooth of the other jaw are configured to mate. 38.The device according to claim 37, wherein the teeth of the one of thejaws are displaced by one half pitch from the at least one tooth of theother jaw.
 39. The device according to claim 33, wherein the first andsecond jaws have a generally elongated hemispherical shape.
 40. Thedevice according to claim 33, wherein the first jaw has a tang defininga first bore.
 41. The device according to claim 40, further comprising afirst pull wire positioned within the hollow portion, the first pullwire connecting the first jaw to the actuator and engaging the firstbore, wherein a distal end of the first pull wire passes through andbeyond the first bore and terminates without forming a loop.
 42. Thedevice according to claim 41, further comprising the second pull wirepositioned within the hollow portion and connecting the second jaw tothe actuator.
 43. The device according to claim 42, wherein the secondjaw has a tang defining a second bore and the second pull wire engagesthe second bore, a distal end of the second pull wire passing throughand beyond the second bore and terminating without forming a loop, theactuator operating to pivot the second jaw about the pivotal axis. 44.The device according to claim 43, wherein the distal end of the secondpull wire includes a main portion which extends in the direction of theactuator, a first portion which passes through the second bore at anangle to the main portion, and a second portion on the opposite side ofthe second bore relative to the main portion, the second portion of thesecond pull wire maintaining the second pull wire on the tang, thesecond pull wire terminating on the second portion.
 45. The deviceaccording to claim 42, wherein the actuator includes a handle beingcoupled to the first and second pull wires.
 46. The device according toclaim 45, wherein the handle includes a central shaft and a spoolslidably disposed around the central shaft, the spool engaging the firstand second pull wires, the spool operable to move the first and secondpull wires relative to the central shaft.
 47. The device according toclaim 42, wherein the first and second pull wires are positioned withinthe hollow portion for a substantial length of the hollow portion. 48.The device according to claim 41, wherein the distal end of the firstpull wire includes a main portion which extends in the direction of theactuator, a first portion which passes through the first bore at anangle to the main portion, and a second portion on the opposite side ofthe first bore relative to the main portion, the second portion of thefirst pull wire maintaining the first pull wire on the tang, the firstpull wire terminating on the second portion.
 49. The device according toclaim 48, wherein the first pull wire is bent between the main portionand the first portion and between the first portion and the secondportion.
 50. The device according to claim 49, wherein the first portionof the first pull wire which passes through the bore is rotatablerelative to the surface of the bore.
 51. The device according to claim33, wherein the hollow portion is a coil.
 52. The device according toclaim 33, further comprising a needle disposed between the first andsecond jaws.
 53. An end effector assembly for use in a biopsy forcepsdevice including an actuator at a proximal end of the device and ahollow portion connecting the actuator to the end effector assembly, theend effector assembly comprising: a first jaw; and a second jaw formating with the first jaw, wherein the first jaw is pivotally disposedwith respect to the second jaw about a pivotal axis, and each of thefirst and second jaws includes a generally U-shaped configurationdefining a center point and having distalmost end, and wherein an edgeof the distalmost end of the first jaw includes teeth radially disposedabout the center point, and an edge of the distalmost end of the secondjaw includes at least one tooth disposed at a portion thereof.
 54. Theassembly according to claim 53, wherein the second jaw is pivotallydisposed about the pvitoal axis and with respect to the first jaw sothat the jaws mate upon pivotal movement.
 55. The assembly according toclaim 54, further comprising a clevis pin, wherein the pivotal axis isdefined by the clevis pin.
 56. The assembly according to claim 54,wherein the second pull wire is bent between the main portion and thefirst portion and between the first portion and the second portion. 57.The assembly according to claim 56, wherein the first portion of thesecond pull wire which passes through the second bore is rotatablerelative to surface of the bore.
 58. The assembly according to claim 53,wherein the teeth of the first jaw and the at least one tooth of thesecond jaw have a substantially triangular shape.
 59. The assemblyaccording to claim 58, wherein the teeth of the first jaw and the atleast one tooth of the second jaw are configured to mate.
 60. Theassembly according to claim 59, wherein the teeth of the first jaw aredisplaced by one half pitch from the at least one tooth of the secondjaw.
 61. The assembly according to claim 53, wherein the first andsecond jaws have a generally elongated hemispherical shape.
 62. Theassembly according to claim 53, wherein the first jaw has a tangdefining a first bore for receiving a first pull wire.
 63. The assemblyaccording to claim 53, wherein the second jaw has a tang defining asecond first bore for receiving a second pull wire.
 64. The assemblyaccording to claim 53, further comprising a needle disposed between thefirst and second jaws.
 65. A biopsy forceps device having a proximal endand a distal end, the device comprising: an end effector assembly at thedistal end of the device, wherein the end effector assembly includes afirst jaw and a second jaw, the first jaw being pivotally disposedrelative to the second jaw, the first jaw having an array of teeth, thesecond jaw having at least one tooth; an actuator at the proximal end ofthe device; and a hollow portion connecting the end effector assemblyand the actuator, wherein the actuator operates to pivot the first jawrelative to the second jaw and move the first and second jaws so thatthe array of teeth of the second jaw engages the at least one tooth ofthe second jaw along an edge, wherein the edge of each of the jawsincludes a first side portion, a second side portion on an opposite sideof the first side portion and a third distalmost portion connecting thefirst side portion to the second side portion, the third distalmostportion having a curved configuration.
 66. The biopsy forceps device ofclaim 65, wherein the third distalmost portion of the edge issemicircular so that the teeth on the third distalmost portion of thefirst jaw are radially disposed about a point.
 67. The biopsy forcepsdevice of claim 66, wherein the teeth of the first jaw and the at leastone tooth of the second jaw are positioned on at least one of the sidestraight portion, the second side portion, and the third distalmostportion of the edge.
 68. The biopsy forceps device of claim 67, whereinthe teeth of the first jaw are displaced by one-half pitch from the atleast one tooth of the second jaw.
 69. The biopsy forceps device ofclaim 66, wherein the teeth of the first jaw are displaced by one-halfpitch from the at least one tooth of the second jaw.
 70. The biopsyforceps device of claim 65, wherein the teeth of the first jaw and theat least one tooth of the second jaw are positioned on at least one ofthe first side portion, the second side portion, and the thirddistalmost portion of the edge.
 71. The biopsy forceps device of claim65, further comprising a clevis pin defining a pivotal axis about whichthe first jaw pivots relative to the second jaw.
 72. The biopsy forcepsdevice of claim 65, further comprising a needle disposed between thefirst and second jaws.
 73. The biopsy forceps device of claim 65,wherein each of the first side portion and the second side portion issubstantially straight.
 74. An end effector assembly for use in a biopsyforceps device including an actuator at a proximal end of the device anda hollow portion connecting the actuator to the end effector assembly,the end effector assembly comprising: a first jaw; and a second jaw formating with the first jaw, wherein the first jaw is pivotably disposedwith respect to the second jaw about a pivotal axis, and each of thefirst and second jaws includes a distalmost portion having a generallycurved configuration, and wherein a curved edge of the distalmostportion of the first jaw includes teeth and a curved edge of thedistalmost portion of the second jaw includes at least one tooth. 75.The end effector assembly of claim 74, wherein each of the first andsecond jaws has an edge that includes the curved edge of the distalmostportion, a first substantially straight portion, and a secondsubstantially straight portion on the opposite side of a longitudinalaxis of the end effector assembly from the first substantially straightportion, said curved edge of the distalmost portion connecting the firstsubstantially straight portion to the second substantially straightportion.
 76. The end effector assembly of claim 75, wherein the curvededges of the first and second jaws are semicircular so that the teeth ofthe first jaw and the at least one tooth of the second jaw on thedistalmost portion are radially disposed about a point.
 77. The endeffector assembly of claim 75, wherein the first substantially straightportion and the second substantially straight portion of the first jawincludes teeth.
 78. The end effector assembly of claim 74, wherein theteeth of the first jaw are displaced by one-half pitch from the at leastone tooth of the second jaw.
 79. The end effector assembly of claim 74,further comprising a clevis pin defining the pivotal axis.
 80. The endeffector assembly of claim 74, further comprising a needle disposedbetween the first and second jaws.